Call for Applications for Participation

RoboCup 2012 Standard Platform League

June 18-24, 2012 (Mexico City, MEXICO)

RoboCup is an international initiative that fosters research and education in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence through a variety of competitions (RoboCupSoccer, RoboCupRescue, RoboCup@Home, RoboCupJunior) involving mostly multi-robot systems.

RoboCup currently includes a number of different robot soccer leagues that focus on different research challenges. The Standard Platform League (SPL) is characterized by the use of an identical robot platform by all the teams. Participating researchers focus on algorithmic development for fully autonomous robots, i.e., robots that operate with no external control. The SPL at RoboCup 2012 will use the humanoid robot NAO manufactured by Aldebaran Robotics, which is being used in the SPL since 2008. The SPL robot soccer games at RoboCup 2012 will be played between teams of four robots on a 4m x 6m field. The RoboCup 2012 SPL will be able to host up to 28 teams, which will be selected from the interested parties responding to this call.

Qualification

All interested teams need to submit an up-to five pages qualification document that includes:

a statement of commitment to participate in the RoboCup 2012 SPL

the leader(s), the constitution, and the affiliation(s) of the team

a statement of the team's research interests and planned activities

a summary of past relevant work and scientific publications

The written material must be complemented by a video (maximum 5 min long) that demonstrates the current status of the robotics research of the team. Videos of simulation contributions will also be accepted, only in case real robots are unavailable. If the candidates already have NAOs, the video should show the current state of their robot soccer performance.

The qualification materials must be submitted by January 11, 2012, by email to rc-spl-tc@lists.robocup.org. Qualification decisions will be announced by January 25, 2012.

Teams are encouraged to consider joint participation. Joint proposals will be judged on combined merit.

Pre-Qualification

Teams that reached the quarter-finals at RoboCup 2011 will be pre-qualified for RoboCup 2012, if they submit the following material:

a statement of commitment to participate in the RoboCup 2012 SPL

the leader(s) and the constitution of the team

a team research report describing their work for RoboCup 2011

The qualification materials must be submitted by January 11, 2012, by email to rc-spl-tc@lists.robocup.org. Qualification decisions will be announced by January 25, 2012.

If a joint 2011 team splits, only one team can be pre-qualified for 2012 (please, indicate which one).